A Twist of Fate

by Donna Raider

  The door swung open, and Leah stepped out of her office. “Darling,” Leah smiled, “what a delightful surprise and you bought lunch.”

  Mika followed her into the office and closed the door. Leah gently pushed her against the door and kissed her as if she hadn’t seen Mika all day.

  “Food,” she gasped when Leah released her.

  “Thank you,” Leah said, “I am starving.”

  They had just finished their lunch when her one-thirty appointment arrived. Odette announced her visitor and removed the Out to Lunch sign from her door.

  Trent Patterson walked into her office. “Mr. Patterson,” Leah smiled extending her hand to shake his, “I’m Mayor Cross and this is my wife, Priest Mika Cross. Please have a seat.” She pressed a button on her intercom and asked Kathryn to join them.

  Trent Patterson was a large man. At six-four, he towered over them. His obvious strength and size reminded Mika of a gladiator. His smile was honest and sincere.

  “Madam Mayor,” he nodded, “Priest Mika, thank you for meeting with me. As you know, I am here to apply for the challenge of building your shipyard.”

  They talked with Trent for over two hours. He was from Texas and had been instrumental in building several shipyards in the Gulf of Mexico. His credentials were impressive and his desire to have the opportunity to design and build a shipyard and manufacturing company from scratch was apparent in everything he said. Leah and Mika liked him.

  “I would like to take you to the site, and then have you draw up tentative plans on what you would propose,” the mayor informed him. “Do you have time to ride out to the South shore now?”

  “Oh, yes ma’am,” he smiled.

  The three gave Trent Patterson the tour of the South Shore. “We have already cut the main road out here,” Leah explained as Mika drove. “Our goal is for this area to be our industrial area. Shipyards, and a cannery to process the catch of the fishing fleet. South of here we will construct a hydroelectric plant.”

  “I would love to be in on something this big,” Trent enthused. “I have assisted in constructing shipyards in the Gulf of Mexico, but never had a chance to implement some of my ideas that I feel will make a difference in the overall operation of things.”

  “Obviously, we will be interviewing others,” Kathryn nodded, “but we would like to see a proposal from you.”

  “We are asking everyone to give us a rough draft by October first. Will that give you time to put together something?” the mayor asked.

  “Oh, yes, ma’am,” Patterson nodded enthusiastically. “If it is okay with you, I will just stay in town for a few days and get the lay of the land.”

  “That will be fine,” Leah nodded. “If you need anything please contact the Deputy Mayor. She will be happy to work with you.” Kathryn nodded in agreement.

  Leah’s phone dinged as a text message came in. It was an automatic notification from the credit card company informing her that Jezebel had just used the card to rent a Cadillac.

  “We must be getting you back to town,” she frowned at the message. “There is a wonderful bed and breakfast connected to the diner. I think you will be comfortable there.”

  After dropping off Trent and Kathryn, Mika reached for her wife’s hand. “What’s wrong, darling?”

  “Mother,” Leah scowled. “She just rented a car. I believe she is on her way here.”

  ##

  Jezebel had chosen to drive a car instead of transporting herself. She didn’t want her daughter to know she had her powers back. The element of surprise would work well against Leah.

  She arrived in town after dark and checked into the bed and breakfast. She changed her appearance to avoid the whole evil witch reaction from Ruth and Naomi.

  The diner had the usual Friday night crowd. Jezebel sat in a booth hidden in the shadows. She was surprised when her daughter and the priest walked in. She watched them interact with one another. Even after eight years, six of them as a married couple, the priest still couldn’t keep her eyes off her wife. They were constantly touching, holding hands and whispering to each other. Jezebel noticed how her daughter placed her hand on the priest’s thigh when they sat next to each other in the large booth. The priest stole a kiss like a lovesick teenager.

  The diner door swung open, and two of the most beautiful children Jezebel had ever seen ran in. “Queen Mommy, Queen Mommy, we eat wiff you,” they squealed as they ran to Leah and climbed into her lap. One of them hugged and kissed her, then climbed over her to settle on the priest’s lap.

  “Wait for me,” a laughing Richie followed the toddlers. “You are getting too fast for me.” The young man held the door open as a beautiful, flaxen-haired goddess entered with him.

  Jezebel was surprised at how beautiful the entire scene was. It had been over three years since her last, unpleasant encounter with her daughter. Richie had grown into a tall, handsome, young man. The children were breathtaking and so well behaved. The priest and her daughter exuded love and happiness. Jezebel fleetingly wondered if she could have found the joy her daughter had found if she had chosen a different path.

  “Wow, the entire Cross family,” Ruth grinned widely, “How did we get so lucky?”

  “Queen Mommy work hard,” one of the children answered, “Richie say we eat wiff you.”

  “We love to eat wiff you, Aunt Ruth ,” the other child laughed.

  The priest could not deny these children, Jezebel thought. They are perfect, tiny replicas of her. Leah obviously adores them, just as she has always doted on the boy she adopted. Bringing her down will be easy. Love has always been her weakness.

  “Why don’t I bring you two your own chairs?” Ruth winked at the twins.

  “Yes,” they nodded in unison.

  Richie moved quickly to help Ruth carry two highchairs to the table. They placed the chairs on either side of Leah and Mika, so each child was sitting by a parent.

  Jezebel watched as the family talked; laughing and telling about their day. She couldn’t help but notice how her daughter and the priest stole glances at one another. Occasionally Leah would make Mika jump slightly, and she would cover Leah’s hand with hers, holding it tightly against her leg. Jezebel knew her daughter’s magic was playing with the priest. Mika welcomed her intimate interaction with her.

  Mika took care of the small boy sitting next to her, making certain he had water and was eating his food. Leah took similar care of the little girl sitting next to her. Occasionally the priest would feed her wife something from her plate. Jezebel could tell by the gleam in Mika’s eye it was more to watch Leah’s lips toy with the fork than to share her food. She obviously adored her wife. The scene was one of happy domesticity.

  For just an instant, Jezebel had a pang of guilt over what she was planning to do to her daughter and her family. Why should she feel guilty, she was setting it up so her daughter could be Queen of the Underworld? Of course, Jezebel would be able to rule the humans. What Leah wanted didn’t matter. She was too weak.

  After the family had left, Jezebel paid her check and walked to the pawnshop. She needed another meeting with M.

  ##

  Mika sat in the chair in their bedroom watching her wife getting ready for bed. “You never cease to take my breath away,” she smiled at Leah. “You are exquisite.”

  Leah finished buttoning the top of her pajamas and moved to sit in her lap. “I am glad I please you, ma’am,” she teased.

  “Look who’s the queen of understatement,” Mika kissed her gently. “You do so much more than please me.”

  Leah kissed her, a long, demanding kiss. Their tongues exploring each other’s mouths. “If I please you so much, you should thank me.”

  “I don’t know how to thank you,” Mika kissed her back, teasing her lips, “Maybe you could give me some ideas.”

  “Oh, I have many ideas, dear,” Leah stood, pulling her to the bed. She flicked her wrist, and all the lights went out.

  ##

  Later, Mika lay
holding her close, “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “Umm, the pleasure was all mine,” Leah said in her low sultry voice.

  “Just for the record, your ideas were wonderful.” Mika kissed her slowly, enjoying the feel of her from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. Every place they made contact sparked with magic.

  “I suppose Mother will rear her ugly head tomorrow,” Leah worried. “We have to make her leave before we can go on vacation.”

  Mika groaned. “I know. I wouldn’t feel safe leaving the children, with her in town.”

  “Any thought on what we can do with her? Leah breathed softly against her breasts.

  “We can transport her to one of the planets with no life.” Mika grinned, thinking of Jezebel foraging for food and water with no one to intimidate. “Or a Turkish prison.”

  “What’s a Turkish prison?” Leah began kissing down Mika’s stomach.

  “What are you doing?” Mika moaned.

  “I just had another idea,” Leah chuckled deeply.

  “Don’t you want to hear about Turkish prisons?” Mika teased.

  “Oh, yes, dear, but later. Much later.”

  ##

  Leah rolled off her, panting as if she had run a three-minute mile. Mika was already flat on her back, but just as out of breath.

  As her heart rate neared normal and she began to breathe properly, she thought about her child Leah was carrying. She wanted to hear its heartbeat. She slid down into the bed, bringing her head even with her wife’s stomach.

  “Oh, no, baby, please,” Leah pleaded. “I can’t take any more tonight.”

  Mika laughed quietly. “I’m just checking for the heartbeat.”

  “Oh,” she chuckled softly. “Can you hear it?”

  “Yes,” Mika slowly slid back up her body. “You aren’t going to believe this, but there are two.”

  “Twins,” Leah smiled happily, “aren’t you the prolific little devil?”

  “Um, I am certainly the happiest woman in the world,” Mika kissed her gently. Leah moved her soft lips against her wife’s.

  “When you kiss me like that, it is the most wonderful feeling in the world,” Mika whispered in her ear.

  “Um, Leah purred, “of all the sensations we share, I have to agree with you, kissing is the most pleasurable.”

  ##

  Mika and Leah were having breakfast in the diner, when Jezebel entered the front door, pretending she had just arrived in town.

  “Mother, what a pleasant surprise,” Leah rose to greet Jezebel. “Please join us for breakfast.”

  “Did you just get into town?” Mika stood until her mother-in-law was seated.

  “Yes,” Jezebel glanced at the priest then addressed her daughter. “Darling it has been so long since I last saw you. I have missed you,” she pretended to pout. “I thought that you would surely visit me when you and the boy’s band recorded their last album. But I suppose you were too busy for your old mother.”

  “We truly didn’t have any spare time,” Leah smiled just as falsely as her mother.

  Ruth tentatively approached Jezebel with a menu. “Would you like to order some breakfast?” she asked.

  “Yes, thank you, dear. I’ll have coffee and toast.”

  “You are as beautiful as ever, darling,” Jezebel turned her attention to Leah. “Were you going to wait until my grandchildren were grown to tell me about them?”

  Leah glared at her mother. She wondered how Jezebel had heard of the twins. Probably Legion. “Honestly Mother, I don’t want you near my babies.”

  Jezebel was shocked at her daughter’s honesty. “I’m sorry you feel that way. Although I enjoy New York, I do get lonely for my family.” The old witch squeezed a tear from her eye and blotted it with her napkin.

  “What do you want, Mother?” Leah wasn’t playing games where her children were concerned.

  “May I just see them?” Jezebel asked.

  “No,” Leah said emphatically. “You really should return to New York.”

  “May I at least know their names? Are they male or female? After all, they are of my bloodline.” Jezebel looked grief stricken at her daughter’s attitude.

  The door of the diner swung open, and Amber and Richie entered, carrying the twins. Leah inhaled deeply as she realized her children were about to be exposed to her mother.

  “Queen Mommy, Mommy,” both children squealed in unison.

  Richie stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Jezebel. He put out a hand, pushing Amber behind him as if to protect her from the old witch.

  “Harry, darling” Jezebel sprang from her seat and rushed to the children. “It is so good to see you, again.”

  “Richie,” he watched Jezebel suspiciously. “My name is Richie.”

  “Of course,” Jezebel touched her temple with her hand as if trying to think. “See, I have been away from you so long I’ve forgotten your name. This lovely girl must be your wife. Are these your children? They look just like her.”

  Leah and the priest moved quickly to take the children. “Don’t be ridiculous, Mother,” Leah barked. “You know these are my babies.”

  Jezebel pretended to look aghast. “Leah, I can’t believe you have children this age, and I knew nothing about them. How could you care so little about me and my feelings?”

  “I care more about my children,” Leah growled menacingly at her mother. “I will not let anything, or anyone hurt them.”

  “Oh, darling,” Jezebel cooed, “I would never hurt your children. They are just as beautiful as I knew they would be. Although, they certainly don’t look like you. Do you think all of your children will look like this priest?”

  “I certainly hope so,” Leah smiled faintly, then continued to glare at her mother. “What do you want, Mother?”

  “To be with my family,” the old witch answered sweetly. “And now that I know I have real grandchildren; I want to spend more time with them.”

  Leah glared at her hateful mother. “All of my children are my real children, Mother.”

  “Not really, dear. He’s adopted,” Jezebel pointed an accusing finger at Richie.

  “Please leave, Mother,” Leah growled, a deep menacing sound. “You aren’t welcome here.”

  “Queen Mommy, we eat,” Adam squealed.

  “Oh, and they call you Queen Mommy, how sweet.” Jezebel laughed convincingly. She ignored her daughter’s blatant disapproval.

  “Now is not a good time for family visits, Mother,” Leah remained steadfast in her distrust of her mother. “We are in the middle of a major improvement project for our town. It is taking all of my attention.”

  “I see,” Jezebel nodded as if disappointed. “Perhaps I could just spend the night. You could give me a tour of what you’re doing in the town. I will leave tomorrow. I’m interested in you, dear, and all you’re accomplishing.”

  Leah looked torn.

  “I am very proud of you, Leah,” the old witch flattered her daughter.

  “I would be happy to show your mother around,” Mika took her wife’s arm and began to steer her back to their table.

  “I would much prefer my daughter,” Jezebel’s smile turned into a grimace.

  Mika bent down, so she was eye to eye with the old crone. “Either way, you will have to endure my presence,” she growled, trying to antagonize her mother-in-law.

  Briefly, Mika saw the slightest glimmer of fire in Jezebel’s palm. She knew the witch had somehow regained her powers. Just as quickly, Mika wiped them from her.

  Jezebel whipped around to face her daughter as she felt the magic drain from her body. “What?” Leah asked surprised by her mother’s hateful glare.

  “How could you? You, ungrateful little harlot…”

  Butterfly time thought Mika and her mother-in-law began to spew the beautiful insects from her mouth.

  “Butterfyes ,” Sara and Adam clapped their hands. “Pwetty butterfyes.”

  “Let’s finish breakfast and begin the tour,”
Leah smiled. “I know you are anxious to return to New York, Mother.”

  Did you know she had regained her magic ? Mika thought to her wife.

  Yes, I could smell it. She thinks I stripped her powers, again?

  The priest frowned at her wife. I suppose she’s going to interfere with our lunch date .

  I am afraid so, dear. I’ll make it up to you tonight! She placed her hand on Mika’s thigh and sent a warm vibration throughout her body.

  Constant interruptions from excited citizens kept the family from enjoying their time together. It was almost as if the mayor were holding court in the diner. If someone wasn’t standing at their table talking to her, Leah’s phone was ringing or dinging the arrival of a text message. She intentionally did not stop any of the intrusions, hoping her mother would see how busy she was.

  “I can see you are very busy,” Jezebel scowled. “Perhaps I should return later.”

  “Next year would be good,” Leah smiled patiently.

  The old witch finished her breakfast, said her brief goodbyes to the Cross family and drove away in her Cadillac.

  “Lunch, then” the priest grinned.

  “Certainly, darling.” Rich brown eyes danced as Leah smiled.

  ##

  M didn’t bother with the niceties of entering through the lobby; he just appeared in her living room as she watched television.

  Jezebel moved toward the bar to fix him a drink. “You’re late,” she frowned. She poured the Everclear into a large tumbler and carried it to him.

  “Yes, I thought I would collect a few new souls while I was in town,” he toasted her before downing the entire glass. “Oh, Satan, that hurts,” he loudly exhaled as he moved to refill his glass. “These human bodies truly are puny.”

  “Thank you for coming,” Jezebel smiled. “I’m pleased you could mix business with pleasure.”

  “Politicians are the easiest,” he grinned, “they’ll sell their greedy souls to the devil to get elected. “Of course, there are a few pompous religious leaders who fool themselves into believing they are doing God’s work. Actually, they are doing my work.”

  “My, aren’t you the philosopher tonight,” Jezebel eyed him apprehensively.